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Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE DOUGH LAPPING MACHINE Kenneth D. Loose, Bronxville, N. Y., and Charles Wayne Watkins and Joseph W. Green, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 1, 1937, Serial No. 128,438

17 Claims. (Cl. 107-1) This invention pertains to dough-working machinery, and in particular, to lapping machines for lapping and overlapping continuous sheets of dough.

One object of this invention is to provide a dough-lapping machine, wherein the lapping device travels with compensated speed adapted to cause the dough to be delivered from the lapping machine at exactly the proper speed so that it will be laid down upon the receiving conveyor without wrinkling or stretching the dough.

Another object is to provide a dough-lapping machine wherein a continuous sheet of dough is deposited upon a moving conveyor by a lapping rdevice which moves to and fro transversely across the conveyor, compensating devices being provided to vary the speed of the lapping device at different points in its travel so that the sheet of dough will be neither too loose nor too tightly stretched as it is laid down upon the conveyor.

Another object is to provide a dough-lapping machine of the type described above, wherein the dough delivery device of the dough-lapping machine is caused to move more rapidly near the start of its stroke than later in its stroke, thereby preventing either the stretching or the Wrinkling of the dough as it is deposited upon the conveyor.

Another object is to provide specific mechanisms for applying a compensating speed to the dough delivery device of the lapping machine so as to prevent such stretching or wrinkling of the dough.

This application is a continuation in part of our copending application, Ser. No. 43,246, filed October 2, 1935, issued April 13, 1937, as Patent No. 2,076,657.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in vertical section, showing the principal moving parts of the dough-lapping machine of this invention, together with a dough-laminating machine for producing and supplying the continuous sheet of dough to the lapping machine, the speed compensating mechanism being omitted.

Figure 2 isv a diagram, in plan view, showing the relative arrangement of the laminating ma'- chine of Figure 1, the rst lapping machine and the second lapping machine in accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the assembly of the first and second lapping machineawith the laminating machine omitted.

Figure 4 is a left-hand end elevation of the lapping machine assembly of Figure 3, showing the subsequent machinery for regulating the thickness of the dough beyond the second lapping machine.

Figure 5 is a View, partly in section, showing the operating cam and associated mechanism for imparting a compensated speed to the doughdelivery device of the lapping machine.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the gear shaft of the lapping device, taken along the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section, along the line 1-1 of Figure 5, showing the driving arrangement for the operating cam, giving the compensated speed to the lapping machine.

Figure 8 is a graph showing the relationship of the compensated speed imparted by the cam to the dough-delivery device of the lapping machine, as illustrated by the position of the cam as related to its variable radius.

Figure '9 is a top plan view of the cam shown in Figure 7, together with its operating gear.

Figures 10 and 11 are diagrammatic representations of the varying speed of the dough-delivery device at different portions of its stroke, corresponding to the different positions of the cam shown in Figure 8.

Figures l2 and 13 are diagrammatic views of a prior-art lapping machine, showing how the dough becomes wrinkled and stretched, respectively, at various portions of the stroke of the machine.

Figures 14 and 15 are diagrammatic Views showing the action of the lapping machine of the present invention, having a compensated speed for correctly depositing the dough without stretching or wrinkling.

Figure 16 is a top plan view, in diagrammatic layout, showing the driving circuit for the various portions of the laminating and lapping machines of Figure 2.

Figure 17 is an enlarged side elevation of a modified dough-lapping machine with a compensated lapper speed.

Figure 18 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the machine shown in Figure 17.

Figure 19 is an enlarged side elevation of another modifled form of lapping machine, with a compensated lapper speed.

Figure 20 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the machine shown in Figure 19.

General arrangement In general, the machine of the present inventionv consists of a lapping device which receives a continuous sheet of dough and deposits this sheet upon a transversely moving conveyor while lapping machine of this invention and its operation more clearly, however, a diagrammatic showing is made in Figures 1 and 2 of the laminating machine, or machine for producing the continuous sheet of dough. 'I'hese features also show diagrammatically the other mechanisms ordinarily associated with the lapping machine.

In general, the laminating machine shown at the right of Figure 1 consists of a series of hoppers arranged alternately to contain dough or enriching materials, suchA as fats, cheese, nuts, etc. The first dough hopper deposits a strip of dough upon a continuously moving conveyor and the ilrst enrichment hopper deposits a layer of enrichment material upon this strip. The second hopper covers this with a second strip of dough. This, in turn, is then covered by a second layer of enrichment, and the ilnal dough hopper covers this second layer of enrichment material with a' third strip of dough. The strips thus laminated pass through thinning rollers which give a constant thickness to the combined sheet, after which the sheet is conveyed by an upwardly directed conveyor in an oblique direction to the feeding rolls, which feed the sheet into the lapping machine. As previously stated, the lapping machine deposits the dough upon a conveyor while moving it to and fro so thatthe dough isl 'further operations which are beyondv the scope thereof.

I'he purpose of this overlapping, together with the previous lamination of the dough, is to disvtribute the enrichment materials thoroughly throughout the dough with the minimum of working or mixing -of the dough. Hitherto, the mixing or working of dough, either by hand or machinery, has detracted from the quality of the baked product. 'I'he final sheet obtained from the machine of the present invention thus consists of a sheet of dough containing a large number of thin layers of laminated dough ardzenrichment material. 'I'he laminating portions of this apparatus are described and claimed in our cci-1Y whereas the middle layer may be too rich to be self-supporting to form into an ordinary sheet oi' dough. By placing the rich layer between the firmer outer layers the rich layer is supported by the firmer layers, and when combined with the layers ci enrichment material, the productvob. tained is lsuperior to that obtained by'ordinary processes and apparatus.

In particular, the lapping machine of the present invention enables the dough to be deposited upon the transversely moving conveyor without stretching or wrinkling, and to do this the lapping device is given a compensated speed so that it travels to and fro across the conveyor with difierentspeeds at different portions of its `iourney. Hitherto, in such lapping devices, it has been found that the dough will be deposited at certain portions of the travel of'the lapper in a wrinkled condition (Figure 12), and at other portions it will be stretched (Figure 13). This arises from the fact that at some portions .of the travel of the lapper the outlet thereof is moving too slowly for the dough so that the latter is deposited more rapidly than it can be laid down evenly uponl the conveyor (Figure 12). At another position, however, the outlet of the lapper is traveling too rapidly for the dough to be evenly laid down, and this results in a stretching of the dough, thereby thinning it beyond its intended thickness (Figure 13). The present invention compensates the speed of the lapper at diil'erent portions of its stroke so that-it lays down the dough evenly at all portions of its stroke (Figures 14 and 15). 'I'his provision eliminates the wrinkles and thin portions which the sheet receives in ordinary dough-lapping machinery, `as described in connection with Figures l2 and 13.

Laminating machine 'Ihe laminating machine by which the laminated sheet of dough is prepared is shown at the right-hand side of Figure 1 in diagrammatic vertical section, and is also shown in plan view at the right-hand side of Figure 2. The details of this laminating machine form no part of the present invention, and are described in our copending application, Ser. No. 43,246, filed October 2, 1935, which has matured into U. S. Patent No. 2,076,657, dated April 13, 1937, and claimed in a divisional application thereof, Ser. No. 128,439, filed March 1, 1937, and matured into U. S. Pat. No. 2,123,703 on July 12, 1938. 'I'hellaminating machine is described briefly herein, however, because it clarines the subsequent treatment of the dough in the lapping machine and subsequent machinery.

The laminating machine (Figure 1) consists of a. series of dough hoppers lil into which the dough is placed. 'I'hese hoppers at their'lower portions are provided with feeding rollers I i, by which the dough is fed downwardly in the form of dough sheets l2. These feeding rollers rotate in opposite directions so that'the dough is urged downwardly therebetween. Adjustments are provided for varying the distances between the rollers so as to regulate the thicknesses of the sheets i2. The feeding rollers are mounted upon shafts i3 which are driven by appropriate mechanism, forming no part of the present invention. Arranged in `sequence between alternate dough hoppers I 0. are 'enrichment material hoppers il having openbottoms, across which move enrichment material feeding conveyors I5. These conveyors I5 consist of endless belts having slats associated therewith, and mounted upon drums I 8 on shafts I'i. One of these shafts is likewise driven by appropriate mechanism, also forming no part of the present invention. As the conveyor I5 moves beneath the open bottom ofA the enrichment material hopper I4 it gathers a layer of enrichment alsace-r material and carries it to a point where the material drops downwardly, as shown in Figure 1.

In the operation of the laminating machiner the first dough sheet I2 falls upon the mainconveyor I3, supported upon the rollers I3 and 23 at opposite ends of the machine, and is trans` ported to a` position beneath the first enrichment material hopper I4, where it receives a layer of enrichment material 2| from the first enrichment conveyor I5. Continuing its journey along the main conveyor I3, the dough sheet with its layer of enrichment material passes beneath the second dough sheet I2, and still further along its receives a second layer of enrichment material 2|, and subsequently asecond layer of dough I2. The combined thickness of dough comprising the sheet then passes between the consolidating rollers `22 mounted upon the shafts 23, resulting in a 'laminated dough sheet 24 of even thickness. The consolidating roller shafts 23 are also driven by mechanism forming no part of the present invention. The laminated dough sheet 24 then is transported upwardly upon the transfer conveyor 25, mounted upon the transfer conveyor rollers 26 and 21. This transfer conveyor 25 consists of an endless belt by which the dough sheet 24 is transported upwardly on an inclined path, at the top of which it is deposited upon the feeding mechanism associated with the first lapping machine. This feeding mechanism will be described in detail subsequently.

Main driving mechanism machine employed in the assembly of apparatus in which our invention has been used. 'I'he main driving mechanism is shown diagrammatically in Figure 16. This figure serves to explain the interconnection of the various portions of the assembly of machines and apparatus, and their relationship in the production of the improved dough sheet.

The drive starts from the main driving motor 30, seen at the upper right-hand corner of Figure 16, the main shaft 3| of which actuates the belt drive 32 which drives the input shaft 33 of the variable speed transmission 34.v 'I'his variable speed transmission is of any suitable type, such as the type employing parallel shafts with cone pulleys having adjustable, separable pulley halves. By the separation of these halves the belt running between them may be caused to engage different diameters upon the respective pairs of pulley halves, thereby resulting in a different speed ratio when these diameters are changed by moving the halves apart or closer together, respectively. Such variable speed transmissions are well known in the art, and form no part of the present invenrtion.

The output shaft 35 of the variable speed transmission 34vhas a driving connection 36, consisting of a sprocket or belt drive with the laminating machine roller drive shaft 31. The shaft 31 runs horizontally along the laminating machine shown in Figure 1, and by suitable worms and worm gears drives the shafts I3 having the feeding rollers II mounted thereon. The driving connection 33 from the same shaft 35 drives the input shaft 33 of the variable speed transmission 43, from which a driving connection 4I drives the input shaft 42 of the variable speed transmission 43,

the output shaft 44 of which drives the consoli-A dating roller shafts 23 (Figure 1). The output shaft 45 of the variable speed transmission 43, however, actuates through the driving connection 46 the pulley or sprocket 41, mounted to rotate loosely upon the output shaft 44 of the variable speed transmission 43.

The driving connection 43, such as Aa belt or sprocket, drives the shaft 43. The shaft 43 drives one of the rollers I3 or 23, by which the main conveyor I3 of the laminating machine is operated (Figure 1). From the shaft 43 the driving connection 50 drives the input shaft 5| of the variable speed transmission 52. The output shaft 53 of thevariable speed transmission 52, by the belt or sprocket chain 54, drives the input shaft 55 of the reduction gear 56,\the output shaft 51 of which operates the driving connection 53 to 'the shaft 53, operating one of the shafts I1, which drives the second enrichment material conveyor 5 shown in Figure 1. A driving connection Il from the opposite end of the input shaft 5| of the variable speedv transmission 52 drives the input shaft 6I of the variable speed transmission 62, the output shaft 33 of which operates'the driving connection 64, which drives the input shaft of the reduced gear box 66, the output shaft 61 of which operates the driving connection 63 for driving the shaft 63 which conveys power to one of the shafts I1 operating the first en-v richment material conveyor I5. A clutch 13 upon the shaft 35 enables the selective operation of portions of the mechanism actuated thereby.

From the output shaft 35 of the first variable speed transmission 34 the driving connection 1I operates the shaft 12, carrying the clutch 13 connecting it with the shaft 14, which is coupled, as at 15, to the input shaft 16 of the variable speed transmission 11. The output shaft 13 of the variable speed transmission 11 operates the driving connection 13 to drive the shaft 30, which in turn, drives the shaft 6| through the bevel gears 32 and- 83. The shaft 3| at the coupling 34 joins the input shaft 85 of the variable speed transmission 36, the output shaft 31 of which operates the driving connection 83 which drives the shaft 33 operating the feeding rollers of the rst lapping machine. The first lapping machine rollers and theirassociated mechanism will be described subsequently in more detail. From the output shaft 31 of the variable speed transmission 36 the driving connection 33 leads to the shaft 3| operating the actuating cam of the first lapping machine. This mechanism will likewise be described subsequently in detail.

The second output shaft 32 of the variable speed transmission 36, through the coupling 33, drives the input shaft 34 of the variable speed transmission 35, the output shaft 36 of which operates the first lapping machine transfer conveyor shaft 31 through the driving connection 33. This transfer conveyor is similar in purpose to the transfer conveyor 25 between the laminating |02, which in turn, drives the input shaft |33 ofthe variable speed transmission |34. The output shaft |35 of the latter operates the input shaft |06 of the reduction gear box |01 through the coupling |00, the output shaft |09 thereof serving to transmit power to the final set of rolls at the extreme end of the machine,- and serving finally to gauge the thickness of the finished sheet. The output shaft 10, through the coupling ||0, drives the input shaft of the variable speed transmission ||2, the output shaft ||3 of which operates the driving connection ||4 to the input shaft ||5 of the variable speed transmission ||5, the output shaft ||1 of which operates a flour-distributing mechanism for dusting the finished sheet with flour immediately before it is sub- Jected to the operation of the rolls rotated by the shaft |09.

'Ihe second output shaft ||5 of the variable speed transmission ||2 operates the driving connection 9, which rotates the shaft |20. The latter operates the feeding rolls of the second lapping machine, which in turn, operate the oscillating mechanism for the lapping device, in a f manner subsequently to be described. The second output shaft of the variable speed transmission ||2 also operates the driving connection |2| to drive the shaft |22. This shaft |22 operates the actuating cam of the second lapping machine, in a manner similar to the operation of the first lapping machine ca-m by the shaft 9|. In the manner above described the entire assembly of machines for laminating the sheet, transporting it, gauging it or reducing it to the proper thickness and twice lapping it is driven from the main driving motor 30.

First dough-lapping machine The ilrst and second dough-lapping machines are of similar construction and with similar principles of operation, hence, similar reference numerals are employed for similar parts. A single description also suiilces for the main portions of these two machines. Figure 2 shows the arrangement of the first and second lapping machines with reference to the laminating machine. The progress of the dough, shown in Fi'gure 1, however, is indicated merely to the point where it enters the first lapping machine. The side elevation of the secondiapper shown at the lefthand side of Figure 3 is generally similar to that of the first lapper shown in end elevation at the right-hand side of Figure 3. l

The second transfer conveyor 25 consists of a belt |25 which passes over rollers |21 and |28 (Figure 3) at the opposite ends of its course. 'I'he belt |25 passes over idler rollers |29 and |30, and over the driving roller |3| on-the shaft |32, carrying the gear |33 which meshes with ythe pinion |34 on the rst lapping machine transfer conveyor shaft 91, previously mentioned. Consequently, when the shaft 91 is rotated, in the manner previously described, the belt |25 is caused to move in a circuitous path over its` various rollers |21, |28, |29, |30 and |3I. Mounted on the shaft |32 is a sprocket |35 which drives a sprocket chain |35. The latter passes over idler sprockets |31 and |30 and terminates in a sprocket |39 Vupon a shaftl |40. Mounted on this 'shaft |40 is a roller |4|, over which passes a conveyor belt |42. The latter passes over the idler rollers |43 and |44 at other portions `of its course. Consequently, the rotation of the transfer conveyor drive shaft 91 (Figure 3) also causes the conveyor belt |42 to move in a circuitous path around its rollers |4|, |43 and |44.

The output shaft 01 of the variable speed transmission 05 carries the sprocket |45 which drives the sprocket chain conveying power tothel203 (Figure 6).

sprocket |45 upon the shaft 09. This shaft serves as the input shaft of the reduction gear box |41, the output shaft |40 of which carries the feed roll |49 and also the gear |50 (Figures 1 and 3). The feed roll (Figure 1), mounted upon the shaft |52, is driven from the shaft |40 by intermeshing gears (not shown). In this manner the driving of the shaft 09 by the sprocket chain 00 from the variable speed transmission 00 causes the feed rolls |49 and |5| to rotate toward one another, in the manner shown in Figure 1, feeding the dough sheet 24 downwardly into the lapping mechanism. The gear |50 meshes with an idler gear- |53 upon the shaft |54 (Figures i and 3), this in turn, meshing with the pinion |55 which meshes with and drives the pinion |50.

The pinion |55 is mounted upon the pivot shaft |51 of the lapper, generally designated |50, whereas the pinion |55 is similarly mounted upon the shaft |59.

The shaft |59 at its opposite end carries a gear |50 meshing with a similar gear |0| on the end of a shaft |52. The shafts |59 and |02 (Figure 14) are provided with driving rollers |53 and |54 for driving endless belts |55 and |55, respectively. The endless belt |65 passes around the rollers |51, |50 and |59 upon the shafts |10, i1| and |12, respectively, whereas the endless belt |55 similarlypasses around the rollers |13, |14 and |15 mounted upon the shafts |10, |11 and |10, respectively. The shafts and |10 are journalled in the bearing blocks |19, which are adjusted to and fro within the rectangular apertures |00 to tighten or loosen the lapper belts. The shafts |1| and 11 are journalled in the upper ends of the connecting rods |0|, the

lower ends of which are pivotally mounted upon the slidable members |82. Ihe upper ends of the connecting rods |8| reciprocate in rectangularv guideways |03, whereas the slidable members |82 are adapted to reciprocate within the guideways |84 of the lapper frames |05.

Extending outwardly from the slidable members |02are shafts |05 (Figure 5) having bearing engagement with the bearing bosses |01 of the brackets |88. The latter are secured by the bolts |89 to the rack bars |90 carrying the racks v|9|. The shafts |05 also carry rollers |82 operating in the guideways |93 to guide the nose portion of the lapper ina rectilinear path during its swinging motion. 'I'he rack bars |90 are of T- shaped cross-section (Figure 6) and are guided in the T-shaped grooves |94 formed by the side members |95 and top member |95 secured to one another by the screws |91. The guideways thus formed are mounted upon the frame members |90, which are provided with threaded portions |99 carrying adjusting screws 200 engaging the bearing supports for `anti-friction bearings 202. The anti-friction bearings 202 are retained in their bearing supports 20| by the cover plates I'he inner races of the antifriction bearings 202 are mounted upon and rotatably support the cross shaft 204, carrying the gears 2,05 on its opposite ends. These gears 205 are secured to the cross shaft 204 by the keyway shown at 205, and mesh with the racks |9|, thereby driving the-racks |0| when the cross shaft 204 is oscillated. l

'I'he shafti 204, at an intermediate point, carries a gear 201 keyed thereto, as at 200', and meshing with a rack 200'supp0rted by the hanger 2| 0, which in turn,`is sup'ported upon the cross shaft 204 by the anti-friction bearings 2| The hanger 2|.0 is provided ,with a separable portion 2|2 secured thereto, as at 2l3, for assemblypurppses. A member 2|4 serves to vspace therack bar 209 from the hanger 2||| and gives sliding support thereto. The hanger 2|0 is also provired with an aperture 2|5 through which passes the threaded end 2|6 of a tie rod 2|1 (Figure 5) secured thereto by the nuts 2|8.

The opposite end of the tie rod 2|1 is threaded, as at 2|9, into thethreaded bore 220 of the cam housing 22| and secured thereto by the nut 222. The cam housing 22| is provided with a.V vertical bore 223 (Figure 5), within which is mounted the vertical stub shaft 224 and secured thereto by the end plate 225 and cap screws 226: The stub shaft 224 serves to rotatably support a cam 221, and carries a thrust bearing 228 and a roller bearing 229 for this purpose. the cam 221 is provided with a worm gear portion 230, which is secured to the cam 221 by the cap screws 23| (Figure 7). The roller bearing 229 is contained within a vertical bore 232 in the hub 233 of the cam 221, and is maintained in position by the retaining plate 234 secured thereto by the screws 235.

Meshing with the worm gear portion 230 is a worm 23S, keyed as at 231, to the cam shaft 9|.

The latter, it will be recalled, is driven by the sprocket chain 50 (Figure 16) from the output shaft 81 of the variable speed transmission 86, through the intermediate action of the sprockets 235 and 235, respectively, (Figure 3). The cam 221 is provided with a roughly heart-shaped cam groove 250 (Figures 7 and 9) which is of a special character, hereinafter set forth in detail, and which is engaged by a follower roller 24| mounted upon the stub shaft 242 and secured, as at 243, to the connecting rod 244 by the nut 245. The connecting rod 254 is secured to the rack 209 by the bolts 246 (Figure 5).

As a consequence, when the machine is operated so that the sprocket chains 33 and 90 drive the input shaft 89 and cam shaft Si, respectively, the lapper belts 65 and |56 will be moved in an orbital path, thereby feeding the dough sheet 25 downwardly toward the nose portion of the lapper. Meanwhile, the rotation of the cam 221 will cause the follower roller 24| and shaft 242 to reciprocate, transmitting this reciprocating motion to the rack 209, which in turn, causes the gear 201 to move alternately to and fro on the cross shaft 204. This oscillatory motion of the shaft 204 causes the gears 205 to move forwardly and revesely, thereby transmitting a reciprocating motion to the racks i9! and shafts i535, secured to the nose portion of the lapper. In this manner the nose portion of the lapper is caused to reciprocate while it is guided within the guide members |93.

Special motion of Zapper mechanism The lapper mechanism is driven with a variable speed at different portions of .its travel, as hitherto mentioned under the description of the general arrangement of the machine. The lapper is caused to move with compensated speed so that it causes the dough to be deposited upon the transversely moving conveyor belt |42 without stretching or wrinkling at various points of its journey. Hitherto, the lappers have been caused to move with uniform speeds so that at some portions of their travel the dough will be deposited upon the conveyor in a wrinkled condition (Figure 12), resulting from the fact that the .dough outlet is moving too slowly for the dough. At other portions of its journey, how- The periphery of ever, the lapper moves at too rapid a speed for the dough so that the latter is stretched, as shown at the right-hand side of Figure 13.

To perform thiscompensation of the speed of the lapper, the cam groove 240 of the cam 221 is provided with a special configuration such that at the beginning of its stroke the nose portion of the lapper .will move more rapidly than hitherto, and subsequently slows down as it nears the end of a half stroke. This slowing down of the lapper as it nears the end of its half stroke (Figure 15) prevents the stretching of the dough which took place in previous machines, as shown in-Figure 13, whereas the rapid starting of the dough lapper, as shown in Figure 14, prevented the wrinkling of the dough previously arising as shown in Figure 12. On this return stroke the lincreasing speed of the lapper prevents the wrinkling of the dough and it slows down to complete its stroke after a rapid travel from itsihalf-way position. This relationshipis shown in Figures and l1. Figure 10 shows the position ofthe lapper for equal time periods indicated by the intervals A, B, C, etc. to M. 'Ihe return stroke of the lapper takes place from M to Y, as shown in Figure 1l. These intervals in Figures 10 land 11 will be equal time periods, hence, Figure 1 0 shows that the lapper starts its stroke at a rapid speed and slows down as it nears the end of its half stroke. Figure 11, however, shows that the lapper on its return stroke starts out slowly, but increases its speed and thereafter decreases its speed until it arrives at its starting point Y.

Figure 8 shows how the cam is laid out to produce this result. The horizontal portions of the groove (abscissas) represent equal angular l intervals in the circumference of the cam, whereas the vertical portions (ordinates) represent the varying radii of the mid-portions of the cam groove 240 at varying locations thereof. The graph curve 241 of Figure 8, while showing the variation of the radius of the cam groove at different portions thereof, indicates indirectly the speed relationship which this cam groove will impart to the lapper. It will be obvious that a uniformly varying speed would be represented by a straight-line descending graph from position A to position M, and by a straight-line ascending graph from position M to position Y. The compensated speed, however, imparted to the lapper causes this graph 241 to be concave upwardly between A and M and convex upwardly between M and Y. In this manner the nose portion of the lapper is given a compensated speed in its reciprocation so that the dough is laid down evenly upon the conveyor belt |42 Without wrinkling or stretching.

'Ihe first lapper, as shown in Figure 3, is supported upon a frame, generally designated 248. The feed rolls |49 and |5| are moved toward and away from each other -by mechanism operated by the hand wheel 249, shaft 250, worms 25| and worm gears 252 upon the adjusting shafts 253 (Figure 4). These worms are shown encased, in Figure 3, for the rst lapper bu uncovered in Figure 4. v

The belt conveyor |25 is mounted upon side members 254, which rest upon the upper frame portion, generally designated 255, of the second lapper (Figure 3). The mechanism of this second lapper is generally similar to that of the rst lapper, and its drive has already been described in connection with Figure 16. Accordingly, similar reference numerals are used upon 'the belt conveyor |42.

lapper, and provides a similarly compensated speed. v

Beyond the second lapper, generally designated 266, the dough passes from the conveyor belt |42 thereof to an upwardly moving transfer conveyor, generally designated 261, having a conveyor belt 268. The drive of the conveyor belt 268 is similar to that of the conveyor belt |26 between the rst and second lappers, and passes over similar end rollers |21 and |26. From the end rollers |21 of the transfer conveyor 261 the dough passes between the gauge rolls 263 and 266, where it receives its final thickness-gauging before being deposited upon an intermediate transfer conveyor 26|, for transfer to a conveyor 262 leading to other machines, not' involved in the present invention. I'hese other machines, for example, may consist of cutting machines or of machines for transporting the dough to the baking ovens. 'I'he intermediate transfer conveyor 26| is supported upon the rollers 263, 264, 266 and 266 and is subjected to a flour-dusting operation by the flour-dusting apparatus, generally indicated at 261. Similar flour-dusting apparatus is provided at 268 and 268 for the transfer and belt conveyors shown in Figure 4.

To facilitate the adjustment of the different variable speed transmissions, the controls thereof are connected at remotely located points to hand wheels by means of sprocket chains. In Figure 3 the hand wheels 216 and 21| are connected by the sprocket chains 212 and 213 to the speed adjustments of the variable speed transmissions 86 and 86. In Figure 4 the variable speed transmmsions ||6 and Il 2 are adjusted by the hand wheels 214 and 216. The variable speed transmission 11 is adjusted through the sprocket chain 216 by the hand wheel 211. The variable speed transmission |64` is adjusted through the sprocket chain 218 by the hand wheel 216. The gauge rolls 266 and 266 are adjusted as to their separations by manually turning the hand wheel 286 mounted upon the shaft 28|.

Operation The operation of the machine has been sutilciently set forth in connection with the description of the driving mechanism (Figure 16) and in connection with the individual parts previously described. It will, therefore, suffice to summarize the general operation of the machine.

The dough placed in the dough hoppers I6 and the enrichment materials within the hoppers 4 are caused to form the laminated dough sheet 24, as shown in Figure 1,-by the action of the various conveyors I8 and I6 and by the consolidating rolls 22. This laminated dough sheet is transported by the belt conveyor 26 to the first lapper, where it passes between .the gauge rolls |43 and |6| thereof, into the lapping mechanism, being urged downwardly by the belts |66 and |66 thereof (Figures 14 and 15). The lapper moves to and fro at a compensated angular speed, under the action of the cam drive previously described and shown in Figures 5 to 1l, inclusive, so that it deposits the dough sheet in overlapping layers upon 'Ihis depositing of the dough, however, is done without wrinkling or stretching because of this compensated angular speed. The dough thus lapped and overlapped is transported upwardly by the conveyor belt |28,

and moves between the feeding rolls of the second h Modified compensated driving mechanisms for dough lapper The modified driving mechanism shown in Figures 1 9 and 20 for the dough lapper replaces the cam drive, previously described. In this modification the lapper itself is of similar construction to that already described, and consequently its parts bear similar reference numerals. The nose portions of the lapper, however, are provided with pins 366 which carry rollers 36| engaging in reversely spiralled grooves 362 in the drums 363. supported in the bearing blocks 366 mounted upon the frame, generally designated 366, and are interconnected by the sprockets 361 and sprocket chain 368. An additional sprocket 363 on one of the shafts is engaged by a sprocket chain 3|6 to drive the assembly.

The cam grooves 362 upon the drums 363 are arranged of such inclinations at various points along the drums as to give the compensated speeds shown in Figures 8, 10 and 11. In this manner the groove is more sharply inclined at certain portions of the drum than at others so as to give the nose portion of the lapper a compensated speed.

The modified driving mechanism shown in Figures 17 and 18 employs a similar lapper to that already described. The nose portion of the lapper, however, is connected by suitable pins 326 to sprocket chains 32| passing around the sprockets 322, mounted upon the shafts 323 and 324. A second sprocket 326 upon the shaft 324 transmits power thereto by means of the sprocket chain 326 from the sprocket 321 upon the shaft 326. The latter is provided with an elliptical gear 328 mesh- The latter are mounted upon shafts 364 ing with an elliptical gear 336 mounted. upon the shaft 33|, and driven by the sprocket 32 through t/he sprocket chain 333 from the sprocket 334. The latter is mounted upon the4 shaft 336, upon which one of the feeding rolls is mounted. Consequently, when the shaft 336 is rotated the elliptical gears 328 and 336 impart a variable speed to the shaft 328 at different portions of their revolution, this being transmitted to the sprocket chain shaft 33|, and driven by the sprocket 332 through through the agency of the pins 326 engaging the sprocket chain 32| In this manner the nose portion of the lapper is likewise given a compensated speed.

Thus, by the compensated motionmechanism of the present invention the dough lapper is moved, at the beginning of its half stroke, with a speed greater than simple harmonic motion, and near the end of its half stroke at a speed less than simple harmonic notion. In other words, near the beginning of its half stroke the 'dough lapper is moved at a speed which is greater than the normal speed of reciprocation imparted by a crank mounted upon a shaft rotating at a constant speed, and near the end of its half stroke at a speed less than this normal reciprocation speed. 'I'he mechanisms of the present invention, therefore, apply an accelerated speed near the start of the half stroke and a retarded speed near the end thereof. For the remainder of the stroke, wherein the dough lapper returns to its y original position, the lapper initially moves with an acceleratedspeed, and nears its starting point at a retarded speed. This is clearly shown in Figure 10 for the outward half stroke, and in Figure ll for the returning half stroke. 'I'he greater the intervals between successive letters, in Figures 10 and 11,'the higher is the speed at that portion of the stroke. Where the letters become closer together the speed of motion is correspondingly retarded.

It will be understood that we desire to comprehend within our invention such modifications as come within ,the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a dough-lapping machine, la conveyor, moving means for receiving and depositing a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in over-lapping layers, and means for moving said depositing means at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the beginning of its half stroke.

2. In a dough-lapping machine, a conveyor, moving means for receiving and depositing a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in over-lapping layers, and means for moving said depositing means at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the beginning of its half stroke and at a more retarded speed than simple harmonic motion near the end of said half stroke.

3. In a dough-lapping machine, a conveyor, moving means for receiving and depositing a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in over-lapping layers, and means for moving said depositing means relatively to said conveyor in a rectilinear path at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the beginning of said forward motion.

4. In a dough-lapping machine, a conveyor, moving means for receiving and depositing a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in over-lapping layers, and means for moving said depositing means relatively to said conveyor in a rectilinear path at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the beginning of said forward motion and at a more retarded speed than simple harmonic motion near the end of said forward motion.

5. In a dough-lapping machine, a conveyor, moving means for receiving and depositing a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in over-lapping layers, said depositing means moving forward and back across said conveyor, and means for moving said depositing means at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the beginning of said forward motion, at a more retarded speed than simple harmonic motion near the end of said forward motion, and at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the beginning of said return motion.

6. In a dough-lapping machine, a conveyor,

moving means for receiving and depositing a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in over-lapping layers, said depositing means moving forward and back across said conveyor, and means ,for moving said depositing means at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the beginning of said forward motion, at a more retarded speed than simple harmonic motion near the end of said forward mo' tion, at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the beginning of said return motion, and at a more retarded speed than simple harmonic motion near the end of said return motion.

7. In a dough-lapping machine, a conveyor, a swinging member arranged to receive and deposit a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in overlapping layers, and means for moving said swinging member at a compensated variable speed relatively to simple harmonic motion during different portions of its stroke whereby to deposit the dough without wrinkling or stretching at different portions of the stroke.

8. In a dough-lapping machine, a conveyor, a swinging member arranged to receive and deposit a continuous sheetv of dough upon the conveyor in overlapping layers, said swinging member having two relatively movable portions, one of said portions being arranged to travel in an arcuate path and the other portion being arranged to travel in a rectilinear path, and means for moving the rectilinearly traveling portion of said swinging member at-a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the beginning of its forward stroke.

9. In a dough-lapping machine, a conveyor,.

a swinging member arranged to receive and deposit a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in overlapping layers,said swinging member having two relatively movable portions, one of said portions being arranged to travel in an arcuate path and the other portion being arranged to travel in a rectilinear path, and means for moving the rectilinearly traveling portion of said swinging member at a more accelerated s peed than simple harmonic motion near the beginning of its forward stroke and at a more retarded speed than simple harmonic motion near the end of its forward stroke.

10. In a dough-lapping machine, a conveyor, a swinging member arranged to receive and deposit a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in overlapping layers, and means for moving said swinging member at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the beginnings of the forward and return portions of its stroke. l1. In a dough-lapping machine, a conveyor,

`ra swinging member arranged to receive and deposit a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in overlapping layers, and means for moving said swinging member at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the beginnings of the forward and return portions of its stroke and at a more retarded speed than simple harmonic motion near the ends of the forward and return portions of its stroke.

12. In a. dough-lapping machine, a conveyor, moving means for receiving and depositing a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in overlapping layers, and a cam mechanism for moving said depositing means at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion in one direction of its stroke.

13. In a dough-lapping machine, a conveyor, moving means for receiving and depositing a continuous sheet of dough upon the conveyor in overlapping layers, and a cam mechanism for moving said depositing means at a more accelerated speed than simple harmonic motion near the start of a half stroke thereof and at a 

